Commodity carrier



June 2, 1942. H A. coNeER COMMODITY CARRIER Filed June 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. 2? BY 7 7m n ORNEY Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT.

OFFICE 2,284,801 7 COMMODITY CARRIER Herbert A. Conger, Glendale, Calif.

Application June 28, 1941, Serial No. 400,291 4 Claims. (01. 280-36) The present invention presents a distinctive improvement in type over the commodity carrier disclosed in Patent Number 2,186,368 granted to me under date of January 9th, 1940. It incorporates, however, and greatly exceeds, the novelty and utility found in the latter. i

a It is thus the prinoipalobject of the present invention to provide a highly improved and more serviceable carrier than in said Letters Patent disclosed, one of far greaterfiexibility, and selflocking against collapsibility.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a commodity carrier adaptable to hold two separately .positioned receptacles of reasonable size regardless of shape or structure, such' as boxes, baskets, packages and bundles, for example, for carriage in and about a building or otherwise as desired, and whereby the receptacles may be transported from place to place, and merchandise of practically any description within the limits of the carrier be either collected or distributed as the case may be.

It is a further object of the herein invention to provide a staunch, compact, well constructed carrier easily and readily handled by old and young alike, foldable comparatively fiat, thus assuring a maximum saving in storage space and shipping costs, and. capable of withstanding the weight of the average class of commodities most likely carried about therein, retail store and wholesale house merchandise, for example, and the smaller stocks of manufacturing plants in particular. I

And a still further object is to provide such a carrier which may safely be used and be eagerly sought after by the customers of self-serving retail grocery stores and other food markets, as a matter of convenience in their selection of the stock and its conveying to the checking stand.

I attain these objects by the carrier illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention in a nearly folded position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof in its open or useable position;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan on a larger scale taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views. The invention thus embodies a pair of trays l and H linked together by a pair of bars I2 and I3 and an inverted U-shaped handle 14 terminating into leg or link members [5 and [6 respectively. The handle 14 serves a two-fold purpose in that it functions both as a partial means of support for the tray l0, and as a means for moving the carrier about.

The legs l5 and [6 are always parallel with the aforementioned bars [2 and I3 respectively. The'lower ends of said bars I2 and. I3 are pivoted'to opposite sides of the tray H by suitable pivot means ll and I8, and the upper ends of said bars are respectively pivoted at opposite sides of the tray H] to a pair of links H) and 20, by similar pivot means 2| and 22.

The lower end of the leg l5 and leg I 6 are pivoted to the sides respectively of the tray H as at 24. Said legs are further pivoted at opposite sides respectively of the tray I0 by pivot means 25 and 26.

The handle I4 is shown as made from a bar which is round in cross-section, and wherefore a'pairof comparatively short channel bars 2'! .and 23 are disposed about the leg members and It to provide a more durable bearing for the pivot means 25 and 26 respectively, said pivot means also carrying one end each of the links H! and 20 engaged thereto.

The tray I0 is further supported upon the reciprocable ends of the links 19 and 28 by means of stop plates 29 and 30 which are respectively welded or otherwise attached to opposite sides of said tray and rest on said bars to hold the tray in horizontal position as shown in Figures 2 and. 4.

A pair of toggle links 3! and 32 are provided for locking the carrier against collapsing when in open useable position, and are respectively pivoted at one end to the pivots 25 and 25 and at the other end to the pivots 33 and 34 provided on the bars l2 and I3 respectively, said togglelinks being hinged together by pin members-35 and 36 respectively. These toggle links have interfitting stop portions 32 for limiting the movement thereof to the closed dead center position shown in Figure 2.

A pair of wheels 31 and. 38, and a common removable axle 39, journaled in a pair of brackets 40 attached to the tray l l are provided for movably supporting the invention at one end. The other end thereof is similarly supported by a pair of casters 4| pivoted in suitable bearings 42 attaohed to and beneath the tray I I.

The sides and ends of the tray I 0 are shown as being" formed of strap iron 43 and the bottom likewise of lengthwise strap iron 44 and a cross strap 45.

The'sides and ends of the tray II are shown formed of strap iron 46 with a bottom of lengthwise strap irons 4'! :and a cross strap 48.

It should-be understood that materials other than strap iron equally as suitable may as readily be employed.

The carrier is readily collapsible for the conservation of space when not in use, and as readily unfolded for use. Thus, when fully collapsed (Figure 1 shows it but partly so), an upward pull of the handle. l4 and one foot on the tray I l to hold it down, easily and quickly unfolds the carrier to the position shown in Figure 2, ready for use. To collapse, one merely raises the toggle jointed self-locking links 3|, and with one foot on the tray If as aforesaid, coupled with a slight downward push against the handle M, the carrier is compactly folded. The tray H) requires no attention. It raises and lowers simultaneously with each movement of the handle. And the respective tray bottoms may as readily be solidly constructed as well as openly as shown, the respective sides thereof securely embracing the merchandise container placed therein and between. These may also overlap the side members with perfect safety when required.

The legs l5 and I6 respectively are in engage ment with the tray H forwardly of the wheel assembly 38, 39 and 40 as will be noted. This has a two-fold advantage in that it materially lightens the pushing efiort of the carrier when loaded, and at the same time prevents the socalled kick-back and possible upsetting of the carrier.

Either upper or lower tray may be used independently of the other, the dual carrying capacity as readily permitting such use as well as functioning in unison to carry the load.

Staunchly constructed, yet light in weight, neat and trim in appearance, the invention offers a reliable non-objectionable medium for the pur poses described. Moreover, it may be constructed of materials the market afiords, at no great cost, and finished as desired.

I am aware that slight modifications in structure and substitutions of the material herein set forth may from time to time be made without departing, however, from the scope of the present invention, and as defined in the claims which are appended hereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact description herein disclosed, but what I do claim is:

1. In a commodity carrier, a pair of vertically spaced trays, wheels mounted on the lowermost tray for supporting the carrier, a pair of links extending between said trays and pivoted at their lower ends to said lowermost tray, a second pair of links disposed in spaced parallel relation to the first pair of links and pivoted at their upper and lower ends to the upper and lower trays respectively, a third pair of links pivoted at certain ends in common with the upper ends of the second pair of links and pivoted at their other ends to the upper ends of the first pair of links, stop members on the upper tray for engaging said third pair of links for limiting the movement of the upper tray to a horizontal carrying position, and toggle links connected with said first and second pairs of links for releasably holding them in position to maintain the tray in said carrying position.

2. In a commodity carrier, a pair of vertically spaced trays, links pivoted at their lower end to the lowermost tray, links pivoted at certain ends to the uppermost tray and at their other ends to the upper ends of the first named links, stop members on the uppermost tray for engagement with said second named links when the tray is in carrying position, an inverted U-shaped handle pivoted between its end to the uppermost tray and at its lower ends to the lower tray, wheels supporting the lowermost tray, and means for holding said uppermost tray and said handle and links in carrying position and releasable whereby the trays may be folded into upright position.

3. In a commodity carrier, a pair of vertically spaced trays, links pivoted at their lower end to the lowermost tray, links pivoted at certain ends to the uppermost tray and at their other ends to the upper ends of the first named links, stop members on the uppermost tray for engagement with said second named links when the tray is in carrying position, an inverted U-shaped handle pivoted between its end and th uppermost tray and at its lower ends to the lower tray, wheels supporting the lowermost tray, means for holding said uppermost tray and said handle and links in carrying position and releasable whereby the trays may be folded into upright position, said handle and links being inclined upwardly and rearwardly in parallelism when the trays are disposed in carrying position.

4. In a commodity carrier, a pair of Vertically spaced trays, links pivoted at their lower end to the lowermost tray, links pivoted at certain ends to the uppermost tray and at other of their ends to the upper ends of the first named links, stop members on the uppermost tray for engagement with said second named links when the tray is in carrying position, an inverted U-shaped handle pivoted between its end and the uppermost tray and at its lower ends to the lower tray, wheels supporting the lowermost tray, means for holding said uppermost tray and said handl and links in carrying position and releasable whereby the trays may be folded into upright position, said links and handle being connected to opposite sides' of the trays and disposed in parallel rearwardly inclined position when the trays are in carrying position, and said handle being angularly offset at its upper end.

HERBERT A. CONGER. 

